It seems like I'm posting a lot on here at the moment - rather suprising how much I'm flying considering it's the middle of winter!
Anyway, today was to be my first solo navigation exercise. I turned up at the club an hour and a bit early. Got the wind, and plotted my route straight away. A simple one - Colt Crag - Rothbury - Newcastle.
I then found out that my usual instructor wasn't here, but asked another (part-time) instructor to send me off. Whilst it shouldn't have, this got me a little nervous. But never mind, he checked all my calculations and I was ready to go. Checked the ATIS - damn, cloud at 1500 feet. Decided to leave it for half an hour, and hoped it went.
Around 10 minutes later another instructor lands, and informs us there's hardly any cloud. So I give it a visual inspection, agree with him, and go to my 'plane! Everything was ok with the checks, I got it started, and called for taxi clearance. And got a prompt reply saying they hadn't received a flight plan - DAMN. The FI mustn’t have told them. After a few non-CAP413 RT calls I'm allowed to go. So two things not gone to plan...surely not a third?
Everything else goes as planned. I'm instructed to follow another of the clubs AC, and another was following me. All three of us to line up, and then go off one at a time. I was second, and it didn't take long until I was cleared for take off.
No problems on take off, expect for one large-ish gust of wind, but it was all kept under control. I got onto my heading, and all seemed fine. Cruising along at 2400 feet. Already had the first turning point in sight, so was feeling a little more relaxed. Re-checked my checks. DAMN - fuel pump! Other than leaving that on, it all seemed ok. Until I was reminded by ATC that I hadn't switched the transponder on....
So I contacted radar, flew over my turning point, did a nice little circle around it, and got onto my new heading. All seemed fine, the right landmarks were in the right places, and I was on track. Once I was overhead my next point, I did another nice little fly-past, and turned onto my new heading, direct to Newcastle.
At one point I lost one of the significant landmarks I was looking for, but that wasn't a big problem, as another popped up nearly straight away. Now was the time to deviate off course, though. I routed straight into Newcastle, from the West. But needed to be the East of the VRP. So a little correction and I'm heading in the right direction. Called for re-join, and was promptly cleared to enter CAS. The three aircraft I departed with, also wanted to land at the same time as me. Never mind, I was second in line, but I could not find number 1. I looked and looked, and eventually got him, when he was on short finals. Shortly after I was cleared onto finals. Was warned about the military helicopter to my right, which was indeed pretty close, but posed no risk.
So I was cleared to land. Decided on two stages of flaps, but the AC was still on the runway, and was taking a long time to vacate. Luckily he eventually did, and I had some time to spare before landing. For some reason, I did not get my approach right, speed was wrong, and when I eventually got the 'plane down, it was a heavy landing. Perfectly safe, but not as smooth as I'd have liked.
And that was it - my first solo navigation exercise completed! A more complex one is planned for Friday, and then it's landaways, so I've been told! Overall I'm ver chuffed, just wish the landing was a bit better! And I will remember to switch the transponder on, and fuel pump off next time! (And to be 100% my flight plan's been filed!)
Good flight, and past my 20th hour!
Good day overall.
Thanks all,
John.